At a glance

Your chance to

Meet qualified and experienced local guides who show us the best of the area

Lodge in cosy accommodation at the foot of the Yllas Fell

At a glance

7 nights Yllashumina Hotel

6 days cross-country skiing

Suitable for confindent beginners and intermediates

Flat easy loipe with variable distances

Cross-country ski deep in Finnish Lapland

Deep in Finnish Lapland, the tiny Arctic village of Akaslompolo is nestled amid a vast expanse of snow-caked wilderness. It is a captivating place, and many skiers return year after year, drawn by the combination of excellent skiing, comfortable accommodation and astonishing scenery. At night you also have the chance to witness the magical Northern Lights, whilst during the day there's almost 300km of well-designed tracks to choose from.

Itinerary

2Day 26 days cross-country skiing with a local leader through the spectacular snow-laden landscape of Arctic Scandinavia. The surrounding area is a cross-country skier's paradise with a total of 320km of prepared trails, and 43km of these are illuminated.

We prefer not to specify in advance where we will ski each day. This is to enhance the flexibility and adapt to weather and snow conditions and to some extent the ability of each group. When choosing routes, the leader's priority will be to take in a variety of scenery and to ensure that participants become better and more confident skiers as the week progresses.
Examples of skiing options:
The biggest fell in the area is called Yllas and the two villages on the opposite sides of the fell are called Yllasjarvi and Akaslompolo. The surrounding area is a cross country skier's paradise with a total of 320km of prepared trails, and 43km of these are illuminated. The area consists of seven fells and at 718m, Yllas fell itself is one of the highest fells in Lapland. Surrounded by the Pallas- Yllas nature park with its peaceful old forests and fell nature, on most days we ski across the Lake Akaslompolojarvi towards the fells taking in some breathtaking scenery. The network of cross country trails begin from outside our hotel, and they are so arranged that the route can be changed as desired halfway through, therefore giving countless alternatives in the beautifully preserved Lappish nature. There are so-called warm tracks where it might be as much as 15 degrees warmer than in the village. The opportunities to ski are endless, and the area also offers an attractive mix of unspoilt nature, peace and Lappish tradition.

What's not included

Accommodation details

Yllashumina Hotel

The family-run Yllashumina is in a peaceful location at the foot of Yllas Fell, on the shores of Lake Akaslompolojarvi. Designed with the cross-country skier in mind, the loipe begins directly from the hotel, and at the end of the day you can relax with a traditional Lappish sauna and outdoor hot tub. Our comfortable twin and single rooms are in rustic log-cabins a short walk from the main building which houses a restaurant offering many local dishes.

Single rooms are available for a supplement of £290 (or £210 for 24/1 departure)

Essential info

Vaccinations and Visa
No visa required for UK passport holders visiting Finland.
There are no specific health risks. Holiday style

Activity Details
Cross-country skiing or Nordic Skiing is becoming one of the most popular winter sports. Using longer, thinner and lighter skis than downhill with bindings that let you lift your heel, we explore the winter landscapes away from the confines of the alpine pistes. Most cross-country skiing is undertaken on prepared tracks (loipe) and exhilarating days are spent skiing quickly over flat ground, up hills and down them.

Your Safety
On the first few days of a beginner's cross-country skiing course your instructor will choose the trails and terrain carefully, and will avoid steep slopes. However, even on the flat you should expect to fall over. Unlike downhill skiing, where falls can happen at speed, most cross-country falls happen at slow speeds or from an almost static position, and cause no injury. Although it is very rare, some falls do lead to injury; in the worst cases this may include broken bones. Overall, cross-country skiing is a safe sport to take part in, if properly instructed.

All active winter holidays involve some element of risk; from something as normal as slipping on icy pavements, to the possibility of injuries sustained as a result of the activities themselves. While we do all we can to minimize any dangers, participants must be prepared to accept some risk as part of the holiday.

Grade 2 - Improvers and confident beginners. A mix of flat and hillier terrain. Grade 2 weeks are for people who have enjoyed a Grade 1 holiday, grasped the snowplough and now want to improve technique. We ski a little more quickly and over more challenging ground than on a grade 1 trip.
Acceptable for newcomers to cross-country skiing, but you should be very fit and proficient in sports that develop balance - ice-skating, roller-skating or downhill skiing. Most of the skiing will be on tracks but there may be some off-track skiing.

Eating & drinking

All breakfasts are included. Lunches and dinners are available locally. Please see the money matters section for more information.

Trip notes

Download the detailed trip notes for everything you could possibly want to know about this trip, including
detailed itinerary and full kit list

Weather & seasonality

Temperatures should remain below 0degC for the whole season, however recent years have had some unexpected fluctuations, both warmer and colder. Lowest temperature in 2008 was -40 and the warmest was +8degC, just a few weeks apart. Generally you should expect much colder temperatures in December and January, around -35 to -25degC, as the days get longer the temperatures rise to around freezing point by April.

Daylight Hours

As we are inside the Arctic Circle, from 01 December to 07 January the sun remains just below the horizon during the day. But it is not dark - there is plenty of reflection from the snow - expect 4-5 hours of daylight. At the end of January daylight hours increase to 6-7. In February there are 10 hours, and in March 15 hours.

Northern Lights

The stunning Aurora Borealis are one of nature's most awe-inspiring sights, and seeing them hover above us on a cold winter's night is an experience never to be forgotten. Scientists will tell you the Northern Lights occur 'when solar wind particles collide with air molecules in the earth's atmosphere, transferring their energy into light'.

The 'season' runs from October to March. Within this window the slightly better months are October, February and March.

During periods of high solar activity (not forecastable) they can often be seen every night, but the sky has to be clear of cloud cover, and you need to be away from other light sources.

Displays can vary in intensity - from a greenish-yellow glow moving gently around the sky, to a spectacular multi-coloured show dancing across the heavens. Sightings not only vary in intensity but in duration too, from just minutes to sometimes hours.

On a week-long stay you have a very good chance of seeing some aurora, and a reasonable chance of seeing the most spectacular light show on earth at its best.

Gallery

Reviews & community

The hotel at akaslompolo was superb value for money, the food being outstanding. The holiday was a real wilderness experience, with daytime temperatures ranging fron -30 deg to -7deg. The skiing was relatively easy, with the temperatures being the main problem. A couple of people were frostbitten on fingers. Remember this is in the arctic circle.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Doing 25 k in -30 deg for 4 hours.

What did you think of your group leader?

Unfortunately the leader was injured and we had to be self directed on this holiday.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

It is a very easy transfer to the hotel[unlike Norway]. Make sure you wear top quality mittens and bring handwarmers.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Although it was disappointing that the guide was injured, it was an exciting adventure for all 11 of us. MAKE SURE YOU TAKE THE HALF BOARD EXPERIENCE as the food is brilliant in the hotel.

Questions about your trip

Pick your question

Will I see the Northern Lights?

The breathtaking Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) are one of natures most awe-inspiring shows, but to see the Northern Lights is not an easy thing. Here are a few hints on when and where to see them. An Exodus adventure holiday isn't a bad place to start.

They can be seen as far south as Scotland, but the best locations for sightings lie in a wide ring that more or less follows the Arctic Circle. Think Iceland, Greenland, North Norway, Sweden, Finland, Canada and Alaska.

The ‘season’ runs from October to March. Within this window the slightly better months for activity are October, February and March. During periods of high solar activity (not forecastable) they can often be seen every night, but the sky has to be clear of cloud cover of course, and you need to be away from other light sources.

Katarzyna Crompton - Iceland Operations

Can I make my own way to the start point of this winter trip?

It is very difficult to make your own way and we strongly recommend that you make arrangements to meet the Exodus group transfer. If you are unsure, or would like to arrange to be added to this, please contact Exodus for more information.

Rachel George - Customer Operations

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